WADA found itself addressing an unprecedented question at the Winter Olympics on Thursday: what should be done about allegations that athletes are surgically altering their anatomy to gain an unfair edge in competition?
A controversy that has become known as ‘p*nis-gate’ has gripped the Milan-Cortina Games. According to sources, it is centered on unsubstantiated claims that members of the ski jumping community have been injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to improve performance.
When asked specifically about the use of such procedures, Olivier Niggli, the director general of WADA, acknowledged the unusual nature of the inquiry.
‘I’m not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve, but if anything was to come to the surface we would look at anything if it is actually doping related,’ Niggli said. ‘We don’t do other means of enhancing performance but our list committee would certainly look into whether this would fall into this category. But I hadn’t heard about that until you mentioned.’
WADA president Witold Banka, who previously served as the Polish minister of sport and tourism, expressed particular interest in examining the matter further.
‘Ski jumping is very popular in Poland so I promise you I’m going to look at it,’ Banka said.
While the specific allegations about cosmetic procedures remain unverified, the underlying science has created a legitimate controversy within the sport.
Research has demonstrated that increasing the surface area of a ski jumper’s bodysuit can transform the athlete into what amounts to a human glider, allowing them to travel greater distances through the air.
The sport has already grappled with similar issues. At last year’s world championships, the Norwegian team became embroiled in a major scandal after officials discovered they had modified the seams around the crotch area of their suits to create additional aerodynamic advantages.
The consequences were severe. Magnus Brevik, Norway’s head coach, along with assistant coach Thomas Lobben and staff member Adrian Livelten, received 18-month suspensions. Olympic champion Marius Lindvik and teammate Johann Andre Forfang were also suspended for three months, though investigators determined the athletes had no knowledge of the scheme.
The allegations about injections first appeared in the German publication Bild following last year’s incident, though details remained sparse and sources anonymous. Nevertheless, the claims have circulated widely throughout the Olympic venue.
Scientific research supports why teams might pursue such advantages through any means available. A study published in the journal Frontiers found that every two centimeters of additional suit circumference reduces drag by four percent while increasing lift by five percent. This translates to an extra 5.8 meters in jump length, a significant margin in a sport where competitions are often decided by fractions of a meter.
Whether any athletes have taken the more ext reme step of body modification remains an open question, one that WADA now appears prepared to investigate should evidence emerge.
